BC-NH--New Hampshire News Digest, NH

The breaking news staffer for Northern New England is Clarke Canfield, who can be reached in Portland, Maine, at (207) 772-4157. For technical problems, please call (800) 882-1408.

To reach the photo department, call 617-357-8106. AP stories, along with the photos that accompany them, can also be obtained from http://www.apexchange.com. Reruns also are available from customer support at 877-836-9477.

The email address for member contributions is apconcord(at)ap.org

EPISCOPAL BISHOP-NH

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson says he chafed for several years at being branded the first openly gay bishop of the Anglican Church until he realized that he was wasting a pulpit from which he could advocate for equality. "I'd been given this really remarkable opportunity and it would be selfish of me not to be the best steward of that opportunity," he recently told The Associated Press in an interview as he prepares to retire in January. "We went from my consecration, which set off this international controversy, to nine years later seeing gay, lesbian and transgender congregants welcome at all levels of the church, including bishop." By Lynne Tuohy.

AP Photos CON201-1227121148.

ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:

— SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES — A retired U.S. Air Force sergeant remains in jail after his motion to dismiss sexual assault charges against him was denied.

— PEASE DEVELOPMENT — The director of the Pease Development Authority says he expects 2013 to be a banner year for development at the former Air Force base outside of Portsmouth, N.H.

— RABBITS-SHELTER — Thirty-two of the 49 rabbits that were recently surrendered to a Manchester, N.H., animal shelter will be available for adoption starting this weekend.

— COLD-WATER SWIM — A long-distance swimmer has braved frigid ocean waters in a nearly 4-mile swim in New Hampshire to raise money for a Maine wildlife medical clinic and education center.

— WINTER STORM-NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND — Northern New England is digging out from a second winter storm in three days that blanketed Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont in snow.